Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan spearheads survival of famous club

Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has helped save one of English rugby's most famous clubs from potential extinction.

Jordan is the frontman to a consortium that has rescued London Irish from administration, a situation it has found itself in since mid-2023.

Under former owner Mick Crossan, the club was expelled from the Premiership after failing to pay wages. Soon after, it was put into administration with debts of around £30 million.

Administrators have since been seeking a buyer for the club, which has failed to play at any level for more than a year. The Rugby Football Union suspended the club for failing to meet its financial obligations and following the collapse of a possible rescue deal.

Jordan and his group, the Jordan Associates, which was formed last year to help rescue London Irish, has now formally completed a buy-out, with the immediate aim for the club to return to playing.

"The primary goal of the new ownership is to return London Irish Rugby Club to the pinnacle of international professional club rugby, aiming for a swift return to top-flight competition," read a statement from Jordan's group.

"The Jordan Associates team will now turn its attention to negotiating a full and sustainable return for London Irish to competitive rugby, hand-in-hand with London Irish's supporter base."

Kyle Jordan, a senior partner with Jordan Associates, and Jordan's youngest son, added: "We are incredibly excited about this opportunity to steer London Irish towards new heights.

"Our investors bring not just financial backing but a profound passion for rugby and a commitment to the community, and in particular want to reach out to the global Irish diaspora to build the exile brand."

After previously playing home games for two decades at Reading's Madejski Stadium, and then at the home ground of Premier League club Brentford, a new home is to be sought, with a guarantee it will be in west London.

Jordan is currently battling cancer, initially diagnosed in his bladder and prostate, and which has spread to his spine and pelvis.